The poor status of education of education formed the major issue as stakeholders converged on Tuesday in Enugu State.
Consequently, all the critical stakeholders have been advised to look into the challenges facing education sector in rural communities.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, gave the advice during the Local Government Education Authority Forum and presentation of awards to philanthropists and education support groups at the Nkanu East Local government Headquarters, Amagunze.
Mr. Anichukwu, who was represented Hon. Cajetan Anichukwu, described the award as a motivation to invest more efforts in the advancement of basic education in Nkanu East Local Government Area and Enugu State in general, commended the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB) and other education support groups in the state for taking the initiative to mobilise stakeholders towards revamping basic educational infrastructure and activities in the State
In a telephone interview with reporters, Mr. Anichukwu expressed happiness over the award and dedicated it to his parents and Senator Ike Ekweremadu, whom he said helped shaped his life towards community service.
He said: “My late father, Mr. Gabriel Anichukwu who was a retired headmaster and my mother, Mrs. Josephine Anichukwu, who is a retired primary school teacher can be rightly described as great disciplinarians who had burning passion for primary education and community development. My principal, Senator Ekweremadu, is also bastion for education in his constituency and beyond and they have all influenced my life so much in this direction”.
“Importantly too, I come from a community that believes in self-help. We have been badly neglected by successive governments, and have since learnt to help ourselves right, but I believe things will be different under the current administration. The Onuode Primary School was built through communal effort. Nomeh Unataeze Youth Association under the leadership of my humble self and late Mr. Emeka Eze won the 2002/2004 Commonwealth Youth Programme Award, coming first in the whole of Commonwealth Africa for community development efforts. The only government health facility we have, a maternity facility was built by the women of Nomeh. The only secondary school in my town was spearheaded by the Nomeh community and the rural electrification in some parts of my community were undertaken by various public spirited individual”.
Mr. Anichukwu, however, commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration for several resolute steps he had taken to reposition both the educational and local government system in Enugu State, expressing the strong belief that the rural communities would have a better life under his administration.
“Primary education is the groundwork of the education system, just as the local government is the foundation of governance; hence unless the these faulty foundations are rectified, the hope for quality education and good governance will remain a pipe dream, we will keep going round the circle”, he said.
“If a Local Government cannot construct new roads, it should at least be able to build culverts, grade roads to make them motorable, and provide other basic services”, he stressed.
Presenting the award to the awardees, the Director of Social Mobilization, Enugu state Universal Basic Education Board, John Obosi, noted that everybody has roles to play in revitalization of basic education in the rural areas.
Mr. Obosi emphasized that families, students, teachers and the government at all levels have to be blamed for the continued decadence of basic education in Nigeria.
“In view of all these, it is important that everybody, from the parents, teachers, philanthropists, government and even the students work together to promote education in Nigeria” he said.
The Headmistress of Onuode Primary School Amigbo, Nomeh, Okofor Ngozi, commended the effort of some stakeholders in the community like Mr. Anichukwu whom had continued to render personal support to basic education in Nkanu East.
“Uche Anichukwu has been the major financier of education and development in Amigbo Nomeh in his personal capacity. He has been a blessing to primary education in our community in general, and my school in particular, proving some of the materials we need; but that is not enough. We need portable Drinking water, and offices for the teachers and so on. I have therefore asked him to talk to our new people’s governor to intervene”.
Meanwhile, the Programs Manager, Agents of Communication and Development, Bethel Obeta, said the Local Government Education Authority Forum and Awards, was jointly organized by ESUBEB, Agents of Communication and Development, Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN), and other education support groups for the School-based Management Committee (SMC), a body set up in all the 17 Local Governments of the State to help mobilise support for basic education in the State.
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